Formula 1 Driver Raises $13,000 For Hungry Schoolkids

23 July 2009

Toyota Formula 1 driver Timo Glock, whose car bears the red cup symbol of WFP's Fill the Cup campaign, has helped raise almost US$13,000 (€9,117) for programmes to provide free school meals to hungry children around the world.

BERLIN -- Glock, 27, donated his unique German Grand Prix helmet to an online charity auction set up on eBay to raise funds for WFP's Fill the Cup campaign.

Bidding for the helmet, a one-off design made specially for the German driver's home grand prix, ended on Sunday night, with the winning bid standing at €4,117. This will go to WFP.

In addition, Timo and his personal sponsor Deutsche Post have added a further €5,000 donation, ensuring a grand total of €9,117 will go towards feeding hungry school children around the world.

250 children for a year

"I am really pleased to have been able to help raise money for such a good cause. The work done by the WFP's Fill the Cup campaign is extremely important and I wholeheartedly support it," Glock said.

With a cup of nutritious porridge costing just 20 euro cents, Glock's donation can feed around 250 childen in school for a year.

"We need as many people as possible to know they can contribute to find a solution to hunger," Glock added.

Pair of boxing gloves

Timo, in his second season if racing for the Panasonic Toyota team, announced the online auction at the Nurburgring during the German Grand Prix weekend.

That same weekend at the Nurburgring, German boxer Felix Sturm fought a world championship bout with challenger Khoren Gevor. Felix Sturm, who won the match, was inspired to follow Glock's example and support WFP too. A pair of his signed gloves will also be auctioned in aid of Fill the Cup. Details will be announced shortly.

The Fill the Cup logo featuring the trademark red cup appears on the front wing of the Panasonic Toyota team's cars thanks to team partner ALJ, which has donated its space to WFP. Learn more

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